Delhi HC Dismisses Pleas ByGandhis, AAP Against Transfer Of Tax Assessments To Central Circle

New Delhi
The Delhi High Court on Friday upheld the decision of Income Tax (I-T) authorities to transfer the tax assessments of Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, and the AamAadmi Party (AAP) from faceless assessment to its Central Circle.Under faceless assessment, proceedings are conducted electronically without any physical interface between the taxpayer and the tax official. The taxpayer is required to submit the required documents and information online.A division bench of Justices Manmohan and Dinesh Kumar Sharma passed the order as it dismissed a bunch of pleas.A copy of the detailed order is awaited.The court, however, said that the transfer of their assessment to the Central Circle was for a coordinated investigation.
In view of the foregoing observations, the writ petitions along with pending applications are therefore dismissed without no orders as to cost, the bench said.Appearing for the Gandhis, senior advocate ArvindDatar contended that faceless assessment is the rule because it avoids human contact and the scope of unhealthy practise.According to the AAP, the I-T Department’s decision was arbitrary and unreasoned violating statutory provisions.They argued that there was no reason to transfer their assessment as their is no investigation pending against them.